How Americans LIED to the Philippines | History

Summary

The video script narrates the complex history of the Philippines during the Spanish-American War and the subsequent American occupation. It details how the Philippines, seeking independence from Spain, initially allied with the US, only to be betrayed and colonized by a new power. The US, driven by strategic, economic, and ideological interests, established colonial rule under the guise of 'benevolent assimilation.' This led to the Philippine-American War, where Filipinos, despite being outmatched, fiercely resisted US imperialism. The narrative concludes with the US granting the Philippines commonwealth status in 1935 and full independence in 1946, acknowledging the Filipino struggle for self-determination.

Takeaways

• 🏳️‍🌟 The Filipino revolutionaries initially fought alongside the Americans against Spain, viewing the Spanish-American War as an opportunity for independence.
• 🌎 The United States aimed to extend its influence into Asia and saw the Philippines as a strategic territory with abundant resources and a central location in Southeast Asia.
• 🤔 American leaders believed in their own superiority and the need to 'civilize' and 'modernize' the Philippines, viewing the Filipinos as in need of American guidance.
• 🚢 The U.S. Navy's victory at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 paved the way for American troops to enter and seize control of the Philippines.
• 🗣️ The U.S. initially promised to support Philippine independence but later decided to annex the country, betraying the trust of the Filipino revolutionaries.
• 💵 Spain ceded control of the Philippines to the U.S. for 20 million dollars after its defeat in the Spanish-American War.
• 🏛️ The U.S. established a colonial administration in the Philippines, with William Howard Taft as the first governor, implementing policies of 'benevolent assimilation'.
• 🛡️ The Filipinos resisted American colonization, leading to the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1902, where they faced a technologically superior American military.
• 🏞️ The U.S. used harsh tactics such as concentration camps and scorched earth policies, causing significant displacement and suffering among the Filipino population.
• 🏛️ Despite internal conflicts, the Filipinos were tenacious defenders, making the war costly for the United States.
• 🏅 The U.S. granted the Philippines commonwealth status in 1935, providing some autonomy but retaining control over foreign affairs and defense.
• 🌟 Full independence was finally granted to the Philippines in 1946, following global trends of decolonization and self-determination after World War II.

Q & A

What event did the Filipino revolutionaries seize as an opportunity to fight against the Spaniards?

The Filipino revolutionaries took the outbreak of war between Spain and the United States as an opportunity to fight against the Spaniards.

Why did the United States intervene in the conflict between Spain and Cuba?

The U.S intervened due to reports of Spanish atrocities against the Cuban people, driven by humanitarian concerns to minimize their suffering.

What was the strategic significance of the Philippines for the United States during the late 19th century?

The Philippines was seen as a coveted territory with abundant resources and a strategic location in Southeast Asia, essential for extending U.S influence into Asia.

How did the U.S. leaders justify their colonization of the Philippines?

U.S. leaders justified their colonization by the belief in the superiority of American-style democracy and capitalism, with a sense of responsibility to civilize and modernize the Filipinos.

What was the role of Admiral George Dewey in the U.S. involvement in the Philippines?

Admiral George Dewey played a significant role by destroying the Spanish Fleet during the Battle of Manila Bay, which allowed the U.S. to deploy troops and seize Manila.

Why did the United States break its promise to the Philippines after the victory over Spain?

The U.S. broke its promise because it planned to annex the Philippines, seeing it as an opportunity to spread American power in Asia and maintain it as a colony.

Who served as the first governor of the Philippines under American colonial rule?

William Howard Taft served as the first governor of the Philippines before he became the President of the United States.

What was the term used by American politicians to justify their imperialism in the Philippines?

The term used was 'benevolent assimilation,' which was meant to portray the colonization as a mission to modernize and civilize the country.

How did the Filipinos respond to the realization of American betrayal and broken promises?

The Filipinos felt betrayed and turned against the Americans, leading to the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1902, also known as the Philippine Insurrection.

What tactics did the Filipino fighters employ during the Philippine-American War?

The Filipino fighters used guerrilla warfare, hit and run attacks, and leveraged their expertise in local terrain, despite being poorly equipped and lacking formal training.

What policies did the United States implement in the Philippines to maintain control and spread American influence?

The U.S. enforced economic policies favoring American enterprises, implemented educational policies to teach English and American culture, and used force through the creation of the Philippine constabulary.

When did the United States finally grant full independence to the Philippines?

The United States granted full independence to the Philippines in 1946, following the trend of self-determination and decolonization after World War II.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Spanish-American War and the Start of American Occupation

The first paragraph discusses the Philippine struggle for independence from Spanish rule and how the Spanish-American War provided an opportunity for Filipino revolutionaries to fight alongside the Americans against Spain. It highlights the U.S.'s initial promise to support Philippine independence, which was later broken in favor of annexation. The paragraph also covers the U.S.'s motivations for colonization, including the desire to extend its influence in Asia, the perceived need to 'civilize' the Filipinos, and the economic potential of the Philippines. The Battle of Manila Bay is mentioned as a turning point, leading to the establishment of American colonial rule under figures like William Howard Taft. The concept of 'benevolent assimilation' is critiqued as a mask for imperialism, and the Filipinos' eventual resistance to American rule is foreshadowed.

05:02

🔥 The Philippine-American War and the Path to Independence

The second paragraph delves into the Philippine-American War, detailing the Filipinos' resistance against American colonization. It describes the challenges faced by the Filipino Army, including being ill-equipped and under-trained, and contrasts this with the superior technology and organization of the American forces. The paragraph also covers the American military's use of concentration camps and scorched earth tactics, which led to significant suffering among the Filipino population. It discusses internal conflicts within the Philippine government that weakened its resistance. The narrative continues with the U.S.'s economic and educational policies aimed at integrating the Philippines into American culture and economy. The establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935 is mentioned as a step towards autonomy, with Manuel Quezon as its first president. The paragraph concludes with the U.S. granting full independence to the Philippines in 1946, recognizing the Filipinos' long struggle for self-determination.

Keywords

💡Philippine Revolutionaries

The Philippine Revolutionaries were individuals and groups that fought against Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. They saw the Spanish-American War as an opportunity to gain independence and initially allied with the United States against Spain. However, they later realized they were betrayed by the U.S., which led to further conflict. The video script mentions their initial cooperation with the Americans and subsequent disillusionment.

💡Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War was a conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898, which resulted in the U.S. gaining control over Spain's colonies, including the Philippines. The war is mentioned in the script as a pivotal event that influenced the fate of the Philippines, leading to the U.S.'s involvement in the region.

💡American Occupation

The American Occupation refers to the period when the United States governed the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. The video script describes this period as one where the U.S. established colonial rule, initially under the guise of benevolent assimilation, with the intention of modernizing and civilizing the Filipinos according to American values.

💡Benevolent Assimilation

Benevolent Assimilation was a term used by American politicians to justify their imperialistic control over the Philippines. It suggested that the U.S. had a duty to bring its superior political, economic, and cultural values to the Philippines. The video script critiques this policy as a mask for imperialism, highlighting the broken promises and the ultimate betrayal felt by the Filipinos.

💡Guerrilla Warfare

Guerrilla Warfare is a military tactic used by smaller, less-equipped forces against larger, more conventional armies. The video script mentions that Filipino fighters employed guerrilla warfare and hit-and-run attacks during their conflict with the United States, leveraging their knowledge of the local terrain to counter the technologically superior American forces.

💡Philippine Insurrection

The Philippine Insurrection, also known as the Philippine-American War, was a conflict from 1899 to 1902 between the United States and Filipino revolutionaries. The video script describes this period as a bloody struggle, where the Filipinos, despite being ill-equipped, fought against the American imperial power.

💡Scorched Earth Tactics

Scorched Earth Tactics involve the destruction of one's own territory to deny the enemy its use. The video script refers to the American military's use of such tactics, including the burning of villages and fields, which led to widespread suffering and displacement among the Filipino population.

💡Concentration Camps

Concentration Camps are detention centers used to confine large groups of people, often under harsh conditions. The video script mentions that the U.S. established concentration camps during the Philippine-American War, which contributed to the suffering of the local population.

💡Commonwealth Status

Commonwealth Status refers to a political relationship where a country has a certain degree of autonomy but remains under the sovereignty of another. The video script explains that in 1935, the U.S. granted the Philippines commonwealth status, providing limited self-government while still maintaining control over foreign affairs and defense.

💡Full Independence

Full Independence is the state of a country being completely self-governing and not under the control of another nation. The video script concludes with the U.S. granting full independence to the Philippines in 1946, which marked the end of American colonial rule and recognized the Filipinos' long struggle for self-determination.

Highlights

The Filipino revolutionaries saw the Spanish-American War as an opportunity to fight for independence.

The United States used humanitarian concerns in Cuba as a pretext for war against Spain.

The Philippines was a strategic territory for the U.S. to extend its influence into Asia.

The U.S. believed in the superiority of its democracy and capitalism, aiming to 'civilize' the Philippines.

The Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 marked the U.S. Navy's victory over the Spanish Fleet.

The U.S. initially pledged to support Philippine independence but later planned for annexation.

Spain ceded the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million after the Spanish-American War.

The U.S. established a colonial administration in the Philippines with William Howard Taft as the first governor.

The concept of 'benevolent assimilation' was used to justify American imperialism in the Philippines.

Filipinos felt betrayed by the U.S. after it broke its promise of independence and pursued colonization.

The Philippine Insurrection from 1899 to 1902 was a bloody conflict between the U.S. and the Philippines.

The U.S. employed advanced military tactics and technologies to suppress the Filipino resistance.

The conflict resulted in widespread suffering and displacement for the Filipino people.

The U.S. implemented economic and educational policies to further Americanize the Philippines.

The Philippine Commonwealth was established in 1935, providing limited autonomy under U.S. control.

Full independence was granted to the Philippines by the U.S. in 1946 after World War II.

Transcripts

as the Philippines was struggling to

fight against the Spaniards war broke

out between Spain and the United States

the Filipino revolutionaries took this

as an opportunity and fought for the

Americans against a common enemy however

their Victory against Spain was only

temporary as they soon realized that

they were simply betrayed and handed

down to a new colonial power this is the

American occupation of the Philippines

in 1898 the United States launched an

attack on Spain citing its inhumane

treatment of the people of Cuba in the

Philippines as one of the reasons for

the conflict prior to the war Cuba was

also in a war for independence from

Spanish colonial rule the U.S was moved

by reports of Spanish atrocities against

the Cuban people and was compelled by

humanitarian concerns Desiring to

intervene and minimize their suffering

at the same time in Asia the Philippines

another Spanish colony was also involved

in the revolution the U.S perceived this

as a chance to extend its influence into

Asia and establish its position as a

global power the Philippines has a

coveted territory abundant invaluable

resources such as Timber minerals and

arable land and it's a good position in

the heart of Southeast Asia rendered it

as an essential gateway to the rest of

the region during this period the US was

also driven by a sense of superiority

and the belief in the superiority of

american-style democracy and capitalism

numerous American leaders saw it as the

responsibility to civilize and modernize

the Filipinos who they regarded as

primitive and in dire need of American

teaching and supervision the United

States arrived in the Philippines during

the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898

when the U.S Navy under Admiral George

Dewey destroyed the Spanish Fleet the

United States then deployed troops in

Manila and began to seize the city which

permitted the Philippine revolutionaries

elsewhere to gain control of the rest of

the archipelago however the U.S support

for the Philippines was fueled by

American self-interest rather than a

genuine desire to Aid the Filipinos in

their quest for Independence the U.S

initially pledged to assist the Filipino

cause and assist them in establishing a

democratic government and achieving

eventual Independence but after its

victory over Spain the U.S broke its

promise and planned to set up the

Philippines up for annexation much like

it had done in Hawaii Spain then gave up

control of the Philippines to the U.S us

for 20 million dollars after being

defeated in the Spanish-American War

which made the Philippines a colony of

America although the U.S had claimed

that they were fighting for Cuba's

Independence rather than for land

expansion they saw the Takeover of the

Philippines as a chance to spread

American power in Asia and opted to keep

it as a colony the United States then

established a colonial Administration in

the Philippines with William Howard Taft

serving as the first governor before he

became a president of the United States

the United States originally portrayed

its colonization of the Philippines as a

mission of benevolent assimilation

promising to modernize and civilize the

country in a positive light benevolent

assimilation was a term used by American

politicians to justify their imperialism

and control over the Philippines the U.S

claimed to have a duty to bring its

Superior political economic and cultural

values to the Philippines promising to

modernize and improve their lives with

education infrastructure and other

amenities however this policy was often

used to mask their true intentions of

imperialism the Filipinos eventually saw

through this corrupt statement and felt

betrayed by the Broken Promises of the

Americans they had initially welcomed

the Americans and even fought alongside

them for independence from Spain but now

turned against them this led to yet

another bloody struggle with the

Filipino Army ill-equipped under-trained

disorganized and still in the process of

establishing itself against the stronger

better trained and technologically

advanced Imperial power after briefly

tasting Independence the Filipinos had

to fight for it once again the

escalating conflict between the United

States and the Philippines sparked a

full-blown war from 1899 to 1902 which

American leaders peculiarly called the

Philippine Insurrection Filipino

Fighters employed a range of tactics

including guerrilla warfare ambitious

and hit and run attacks although

generally poorly equipped and lacking

the training in the discipline than of

the American Army they compensated for

these deficiencies with their expertise

in the local Terrain in contrast the

American Military capitalized on

Superior technology organization and

cutting-edge weapons and communication

Technologies such as heavy artillery and

the telegraph moreover they established

concentration camps and employed

scorched Earth tactics such as the

burning of villages and fields which

resulted in the displacement of millions

of Filipinos and caused widespread

suffering and starvation among the local

population the Philippine government

also faced several internal conflicts

that weakened its ability to fight

against the Americans including this

organization corruption and betrayal

overall the Filipinos proved to be a

formidable Defender and the war was

Googling an expensive campaign for the

United States as they faced a determined

and resourceful adversary on an

unfamiliar terrain ultimately the

Filipinos were defeated due to the

overwhelming Firepower and resources of

the United States following the Triumph

the Americans continued their plans to

establish the Philippines as a colony

the United States enforced economic

policies that favored American

Enterprises and undermined the

Philippine economy including policies

that coerce the Philippines to import

American goods and prevented Philippine

industries from competing with American

ones the Americans also implemented

educational policies that aim to

incorporate Filipinos into American

culture and teach them English which

helped spread the American influence in

the Philippines in addition the

government in charge of the colony used

Force to stop Filipino Rebels they did

this by creating the Philippine

constabulary which was a police force

trained and given equipment by the

Americans to maintain control and stop

any Uprising in 1935 the U.S granted the

Philippines a commonwealth status which

provided some autonomy and

self-government but maintained absolute

control over the country's Foreign

Affairs and defense the common wealth

was established to facilitate the

Philippines preparation for eventual

Independence and it was led by

distinguished Filipino Leaders with

Manuel Quezon as its inaugural president

during this period the Commonwealth had

its own Constitution legislature and

Judiciary and enjoyed more autonomy than

it had under previous American colonial

rule it was not until 1946 when the

United States would finally Grant full

Independence to the Philippines along

with other countries that are pushing

for self-determination and

decolonization after World War II the

United States granting of Independence

was seen as keeping their promise to

allow self-rule in the Philippines and

acknowledging the Filipinos fight for

independence and their desire to govern

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